Magnolia laid its four-game skid to rest by outlasting NLEX in overtime, 99-95, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Friday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The Hotshots nearly fell prey to a five-point play by Robert Bolick with 55.5 seconds left, but Mark Barroca took the lead back shortly after before charities by Jerom Lastimosa and Ricardo Ratliffe gave them needed breathing space.
Robbie Herndon and Bolick took an attempt each from 27 feet away in a bid to send the game to another extra period but missed, and the Road Warriors would go spiraling down to their third consecutive defeat.
“We’re down at this stage of the tournament, but we’re not out,” said head coach Chito Victolero. “I told them that it’s in our control pa naman.”
Ratliffe led the way for Magnolia with a game-high 38 points and 19 rebounds, submitting his biggest performance of the conference to date.
Zav Lucero made 14 points and five rebounds as he was key late in regulation, nailing back-to-back hits from point-blank off cuts to the rim for the 87-85 lead with 27 seconds remaining until Kevin Alas tied the game up.
Rookie Lastimosa chipped in 13 points while Barroca supplied a 12-6-8 stat line with five assists in the victory that hiked their card to 2-4.
“Actually, ang aga namin nag-playoff mindset,” the champion mentor said. “I told the players sorry but we need to have the playoff mentality. And they understand that because one loss [would mean that] we’re near the exit.”
“So we need to have that sense or urgency to go to the next level of competition, which is ‘yun ‘yung nagawa nila,” added Victolero.
The win also puts Magnolia in good form — and head space — heading into their Christmas Clasico clash versus Ginebra at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Bolick, on the other hand, finished with 28 points, five rebounds, and nine assists to lead NLEX, who fell to below .500 (3-4) in the standings.
Herndon made 18 points. Mike Watkins had 17 points and 23 rebounds in yet another 20-board showing while Alas added 11 in the stinging loss.
The Road Warriors won’t play until January 10 where they will take on Meralco in an all-MVP Group showdown at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Scores:
Magnolia 99 – Ratliffe 38, Lucero 14, Lastimosa 13, Barroca 12, Balanza 6, Abueva 6, Mendoza 3, Dionisio 3, Dela Rosa 2, Sangalang 2, Laput 0, Ahanmisi 0.
NLEX 95 – Bolick 28, Herndon 18, Watkins 17, Alas 11, Torres 8, Mocon 6, Semerad 5, Policarpio 2, Nieto 0, Rodger 0, Marcelo 0, Valdez 0.
Quarterscores: 21-22, 38-45, 64-63, 87-87, 99-95.
